Role of activated charcoal in the micropropagation and conservation of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. Jayaprakash C.M. Saranya Babu1,*, Divakaran Minoo1, Madhusoodanan P.V.2 1Department of Botany, Providence Women's College, Calicut- 673009, Kerala, India 2KSCSTE - Malabar Botanical Garden & Institute for Plant Sciences, Guruvayurappan College P.O., Kozhikode-673 014, Kerala, India *Corresponding author e-mail: saranyaharmesh08@gmail.com
Online Published on 16 August, 2022. Abstract The seed of the threatened medicinal plant Celastrus paniculatus is widely used in many Ayurvedic preparations because of its medicinal property in improving memory power. Seeds are harvested unsustainably by the local healers and herb gatherers for its medicinal use. This leads to the decrease in its population in natural habitats and is listed as a vulnerable plant species in the regional IUCN redlist. In vitro propagation is found to be a good technique for the multiplication of this plant because its propagation through seeds and vegetative methods are not feasible. Even though the plant produces lots of seeds, the germination percentage seems to be low due to various reasons. Addition of activated charcoal to the plant nutrient medium absorbs the phenolic exudates produced by the explants and prevents the browning of the medium. In direct root induction, activated charcoal plays an important role by avoiding the callus phase usually developed due to the addition of plant growth regulators. Medium term conservation can be achieved through the addition of activated charcoal as it reduces the growth rate of C. paniculatus and the cultures could be stored for a period of one year without subculture. Top Keywords Activated charcoal, Celastrus, Conservation, In vitro, Medicinal, Vulnerable. Top |